Vestas closed the UK's only wind turbine blade factories, on the Isle of Wight, in August 2009. Workers occupied the factory, then picketed. This blog is a history of that dispute and of the ongoing campaign for green jobs.

James Beecher – the Vestas 1 – denies guilt and elects to have a jury trial

A PROTESTER fighting the closure of a wind turbine blade factory on the Island has denied aggravated trespass and going equipped to cause criminal damage.

Appearing before Island magistrates today (Tuesday), James Daniel Beecher, 25, pleaded not guilty to scaling a fence at the Vestas factory and climbing inside a wind turbine blade and being caught with Save Vestas stickers, tape, glue and cable ties.

Mr Beecher, of Stroud, Gloucestershire, elected crown court trial and was bailed until November 27.

Speaking on the phone, James has told us that one happy outcome of today’s hearing was that the judge eased his bail conditions.

Whereas before he was forbidden to go within 200 metres of any property owned or managed by Vestas (including their lorries) he is now forbidden only to go on their property. He is therefore able to go back to stay at the roundabout camp outside the Vestas plant, and to travel again on the car ferry between Southampton and East Cowes – previously, that was considered too close to the Vestas plant at Venture Quays and the car ferry had therefore been out of bounds to James.

James was supported in the court by Vestas workers although most of the attention today is on the hearing in Southampton. A number of Vestas workers and other supporters have gone over for that.

Responses

…and the Stortebecker 1:

A MAN accused of shouting abuse to police and assaulting a security guard in two separate incidents at the Vestas protests, appeared before Island magistrates on Thursday last week…was granted conditional bail, which forbids him from bringing his yacht into The Solent between Portsmouth Harbour and Yarmouth or coming to the Island.

Categories

What we're fighting for

Vestas Blades UK made production workers at their factories on the Isle of Wight redundant on 12 August 2009. More than 500 jobs were lost. Many more jobs that depend on Vestas will follow. This makes no sense from a green or a labour perspective!

At the same time, the government announced a major expansion of renewable energy including wind power. We are calling on the government to intervene to save jobs at companies like Vestas - through nationalisation if that is what it takes - to show that it is serious about saving the planet.

Actions & meetings

Wednesday 17 February

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT 7pm, Save Our Services public meeting, called by Unison, but open to all who want to campaign against the proposed cuts to council and all jobs and services. Venue: Hunnyhill Room, The Riverside Centre, The Quay, Newport, Isle of Wight.